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Kokua Line

By June Watanabe

Thursday, August 30, 2001

Residents sound off
about wasting water

We've received several complaints over the past few weeks regarding water waste, which we'll summarize in today's column. If you think an individual, business or government agency is wasting water, call the Honolulu Board of Water Supply hot line, 527-6126.

Auwe

People: Stop having car-wash benefits until our wells are replenished with water from the rain. -- No Name

(The Board of Water Supply discourages benefit car washes during the summer due to the high consumption and low water levels, said spokeswoman Denise DeCosta. She pointed out that commercial car washes recycle their wash water, thus conserving water.)

Auwe

We called Manoa Park on a recent Sunday to inform them that one of the restroom toilets was broken and flushing continuously. Apparently, the maintenance people were notified but weren't available to check on it until the following day. With all the public service announcements the Board of Water Supply has been running regarding water conservation, why doesn't the city have a crew available to take care of these types of emergency situations? -- No Name

(We referred your complaint to the Board of Water Supply, which deferred to the city Department of Parks and Recreation for a response. The Parks Department will not call in someone over the weekend to fix a water leak unless it's a "health and safety" issue, according to a parks official. A water leak apparently does not fall in that category.)

Auwe

To the Punahou School maintenance person and everyone else who uses the water hose to wash leaves off the sidewalk and down their driveways. Have you ever heard of using a good old-fashioned broom or rake and a dustpan? Perhaps we should take pictures of these individuals and print them in the paper with a caption that reads, "DUH!" Maybe then people will think twice about wasting our precious drinking water in this manner. -- No Name

("At Punahou we take water conservation seriously," said spokeswoman Bonnie Judd. "We emphasize this through our maintenance practices, our efforts at water reclamation, as well as what we teach our students to underscore the value of this precious resource."

(Employees have been reminded of the school's policy and the need to conserve water, she said. "While it is still necessary to implement occasional wash-downs for sanitation concerns, we continue our diligence in monitoring water usage on campus.")

Auwe

To Aliiolani School in Kaimuki. They were watering their field/playground about 1 p.m. one day. Doesn't the Board of Water Supply advise us to water our lawns in the late afternoon or early morning to conserve water? It is surely a waste of water to use such great amounts on the grass at the hottest time of the day. -- No Name

(The Board of Water Supply contacted the school to advise them that "watering midday can be harmful to the grass and that irrigating in the cool of the day conserves water and helps the lawn's root system develop better," said spokeswoman Denise DeCosta.)

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Got a question or complaint?
Call 529-4773, fax 529-4750, or write to Kokua Line,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu 96813. As many as possible will be answered.
Email to kokualine@starbulletin.com